| One Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1971 | |||
| Recorded | 1970–1971 | |||
| Studio | Abbey Road Studios and Sound Techniques, London [1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 33:17 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Rod Argent, Chris White | |||
| Colin Blunstone chronology | ||||
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| Singles from One Year | ||||
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One Year is the debut solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Colin Blunstone, a member of the Zombies. It was released by Epic Records in 1971. It includes "Say You Don't Mind", which peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. [3]
After the Zombies disbanded in 1968, Blunstone left the music business only to return after the surprise success of "Time of the Season". [4] Recorded between 1970 and 1971, One Year was co-produced by Blunstone's former Zombie colleagues Rod Argent and Chris White. [4] Some of the songs had previously been recorded during the last days of the Zombies, although they were re-recorded for this album. The distinctive string arrangements on six of the tracks were made by Christopher Gunning.
The album chronicled a year in Blunstone's life, during which he broke up with his then-girlfriend, actress Caroline Munro, to whom "Caroline, Goodbye" is obviously addressed.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [4] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Record Guide | [6] |
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Fred Thomas wrote: "Marked by a thoughtfulness that’s always on the brink of despair, One Year is an understated masterpiece. It drifts by quickly but connects immediately, capturing the same stir of conflicting feelings as remembering a time that will never happen again, or a romance you wish hadn’t ended quite so soon." [4] Neil Tennant said: "It's an incredibly romantic album, which is why it's been with me such a long time." [7] Thurston Moore called it "a gorgeous example of classic British pop music." [8] He added: "It's very personal, very sophisticated in its sentiment." [8]
In 2007, The Guardian included it on the "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list. [2]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "She Loves the Way They Love Her" | Rod Argent, Chris White | 2:49 |
| 2. | "Misty Roses" | Tim Hardin | 5:04 |
| 3. | "Smokey Day" | Rod Argent, Chris White | 3:13 |
| 4. | "Caroline Goodbye" | Colin Blunstone | 2:54 |
| 5. | "Though You Are Far Away" | Colin Blunstone | 3:24 |
| 6. | "Mary Won't You Warm My Bed" | Mike d'Abo | 3:11 |
| 7. | "Her Song" | Rod Argent, Chris White | 3:31 |
| 8. | "I Can't Live Without You" | Colin Blunstone | 3:27 |
| 9. | "Let Me Come Closer to You" | Colin Blunstone | 2:24 |
| 10. | "Say You Don't Mind" | Denny Laine | 3:20 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "I Hope I Didn't Say Too Much Last Night" (mono single version) | Colin Blunstone | 3:30 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "I Hope I Didn't Say Too Much Last Night" (mono single version) | Colin Blunstone | 3:30 |
| 12. | "Mary Won't You Warm My Bed" (mono single version) | Mike d'Abo | 3:06 |
Credits adapted from liner notes.
Musicians
Technical personnel
...Colin Blunstone took a job in insurance, but returned with the autumnal chamber-pop of One Year.
